Swiveling electrical connector

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector has two parts which may be axially rotated relative to each other, the parts having a central pin and a tubular seat therefor and a projecting concentric contact and a concentric annular receiver therefor, the pin and its seat and the concentric contact and its receiver being insulated within outer shells of the parts, the outer shells being rotatably connected by a sleeve.

United States Patent Inventor Olav Sltjervoll 4053 Lawerre Place, Bronx, N.Y. 10466 Appl. No. 789,870 Filed Jan. 8, 1969 Patented June 15, 1971 SWIVELING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl. ll0lr 39/00 Field of Search 339/8; 285/279 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,490 1 1/1907 Burbank 339/8 X 1,096,440 5/1914 Lynch 339/8 X 1,099,384 6/1914 Ledwinka 339/8 Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser AttorneyPeter M. Boesen I IIIIIII I In 'IIIIIIII4 'II.

SWIVELING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional swiveling electrical connectors, such as those used to mount a lamp reflector and socket as a single unit, have one serious and basic flaw. Continuous rotation of the reflector will twist wires passing through a conventional electrical wiring swivel and may cause a dangerous short circuit. If rotation limiting stops are employed, they may cause a strain on the reflector mounting when the limit of rotation is reached. In addition, conventional electrical swivels fail to apply a desired even resistance to rotation. These and many other disadvantages of conventional swivel connectors are overcome by the device of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A swiveling electrical connector, for use in lamps and the like, has two parts which may be axially rotated relative to each other, each part having two conductors or wires leading thereto. Making electrical connections between the parts are a central pin and a central tubular seat for the pin. Concentrically disposed about the pin and the seat are a projecting tubular contact and its corresponding receiver. The pin, its seat, the contact, and its receiver are embedded in insulation within outer shells of each part. A sleeve extends about the outer shells and rotatably connects them together. A compression spring may be disposed within the sleeve to provide a constant and desired resistance to the relative rotation of the parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a desk lamp having a swiveling electrical connector according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through my swiveling electrical connector; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The swiveling electrical connector of this invention may be used in many environments, although it is particularly suitable for lamp applications. As shown in FIG. I, a desk lamp has a base 11 and a flexible stand 12 on which reflector 14 is mounted with a standard bulb socket therein. Reflector 14 is mounted on stand 12 by means of the swiveling electrical connector 13 of this invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, outer shell 15 is fixed to stand 12 and outer shell 22 is fixed to reflector 14. Within shell 15 is a first insulator I6 mounting a projecting tubular contact 18. Within contact 18 second insulator 28 mounts the central tubular seat 17. Wires 41 and 42 are connected, respectively, to contact 18 and seat 17.

Shell 22 contains a third insulator 23 which mounts the tubular receiver 26 which accepts the projecting tubular contact 18. Within the tubular receiver 26 fourth insulator 24 mounts the projecting central pin 25. Wires 43 and 44 are connected, respectively, to the tubular receiver 26 and pin 25.

Interlocking flanges secure an inner sleeve 20 to rotatably project from shell 15 over shell 22. A compression spring 29 bears against inner sleeve 20 so that it may only rotate with a given desired drag or resistance. Outer sleeve 30 is longitudinally secured on shell 15 by an inward extending flange 45. A screw 27 locks sleeves 20 and 30 to shell 22 to complete the assembly of the connector of my invention. It is to be noted that shells 15 and 22 are in good electrical contact through the action of spring 29, shells 20 and 30, and screw 27 so that reflector 14 and its bulb socket are safely grounded to base 11 through the flexible stand 12.

As may be seen in FIG. 2, the shell 15 of connector 13 may have the lamp portion 21 rotated relative to it to any desired extent while maintaining good electrical contact. While my invention has been shown in a lamp environment, it may be used in other applications where twisting of electrical conductors is a problem as in hand-held electric tools.

While this invention has been shown and described in the best form known, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

l. A swiveling electrical connector comprising, in combination, a first shell, a second shell, said shells having tubular portions, an insulated, projecting tubular contact carried in one shell and an insulated receiver for said projecting tubular contact carried in the other shell, an insulated projecting central pin carried in one shell and an insulated central tubular seat for said pin carried in the other shell, two pairs of wires, each pair extending into one of said shells, said wires being connected to said tubular contact, said receiver therefor, said central pin, and said tubular seat therefor, and means connecting said shells for relative rotation with said pin in said tubular seat and said tubular contact in contact with said receiver therefor including sleeve rotatably attached to said first shell and projecting about the cylindrical portion of said second shell, and means fixing said sleeve to said second shell.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of interlocking flanges on said sleeve and said first shell rotatably attaching said inner sleeve to said first shell.

3. The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of a compression spring disposed about the cylindrical portion of said first shell and bearing against the flange of said sleeve for providing a uniform resistance to relative rotation of said first and second shells, and means for retaining said spring against said flange.

4. The combination according to claim 3 with the addition of an outer cover disposed over said sleeve, wherein said means fixing said inner sleeve to said second shell comprises a screw, said screw fixing said sleeve and said outer cover to said second shell. 

1. A swiveling electrical connector comprising, in combination, a first shell, a second shell, said shells having tubular portions, an insulated, projecting tubular contact carried in one shell and an insulated receiver for said projecting tubular contact carried in the other shell, an insulated projecting central pin carried in one shell and an insulated central tubular seat for said pin carried in the other shell, two pairs of wires, each pair extending into one of said shells, said wires being connected to said tubular contact, said receiver therefor, said central pin, and said tubular seat therefor, and means connecting said shells for relative rotation with said pin in said tubular seat and said tubular contact in contact with said receiver therefor including sleeve rotatably attached to said first shell and projecting about the cylindrical portion of said second shell, and means fixing said sleeve to said second shell.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of interlocking flanges on said sleeve and said first shell rotatably attaching said inner sleeve to said first shell.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 with the addition of a compression spring disposed about the cylindrical portion of said first shell and bearing against the flange of said sleeve for providing a uniform resistance to relative rotation of said first and second shells, and means for retaining said spring against said flange.
 4. The combination according to claim 3 with the addition of an outer cover disposed over said sleeve, wherein said means fixing said inner sleeve to said second shell comprises a screw, said screw fixing said sleeve and said outer cover to said second shell. 